Abdominal girdle.



Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

INVENTOR wrmssses COLUMBIIA PLANcuRArH CO-.WASHINCITDH. I:v c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTF E.

EVA MAYNARD MARTIN, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPIRELLACOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ABDOMINAL GIRDLE.

Application filed January 2, 1912.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that T, EVA MAYNARD MAR- TIN, aresident of Meadville, in the county of Crawford and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in AbdominalGirdles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to abdominal girdles, supports or bandages.

The object of the invention is to produce a construction of thecharacter described which provides firm support for all parts of theabdomen at all times and is simple in construction and effective in use.

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 illustrates the application of an abdominalgirdle constructed in accordance with my invention, and as the sameappears when in position on the wearer; Fig. 2 is a plan view of thefront half of the girdle as if the same were opened and spread out upona flat surface; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the rear half of the girdle,and Fig. 4 is a view of a stay or rib.

It has been customary in the construction of prior abdominal girdles toattach the garter supports to or at the lower edge of the girdle. In useof such devices, it is found that the strain upon the garter supportscauses the girdle to bulge or gap outwardly from the body at its lowerportion, with the result of giving little or no support to the lowerportion of the abdomen.

My invention is designed to remedy the objectionable features of priordevices and to furnish continuous support to the abdomen at all points.

My improved girdle or bandage is formed of a front half or section 1 anda rear half or section 2, respectively provided with rows of eyelets 3,3 for fastening them together and securing the girdle about the body ofthe wearer. I prefer to divide the girdle at the sides to lace over thehips, although it is obvious that it may be separated or divided at anypoint or points around the body according to circumstances. The fronthalf 1 of the girdle shown in the drawings is formed of any suitablematerial, but preferably of some non-elastic woven fabric and, as shown,is bound along its upper and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23,1913.

Serial No. 689394.

lower edges 4 and 5 with tape to provide strength and prevent wear. Atone or more points along the front half 1 are provided substantiallyvertical reinforcing or strengthening straps 6, these being eachpreferably formed of nonelastic fabric and stitched or otherwise securedto the body or material of the girdle, preferably in such manner as toform between each strap 6 and the materialof the girdle, one or morepockets 7, to receive stays 8, of any preferred form, to stiffen thegirdle and cause the same to retain its form. At the ends 9 of the fronthalf of the girdle, strips 10 of tape or other non-elastic material areprovided, these being stitched or otherwise secured to the body of thegirdle and each. provided with a pocket or pockets 11, preferably havinga stay 8 therein, for the same purpose as those before mentioned, and anend portion 12 to receive the eyelets 8 for fastening the halves of thegirdle together.

The rear section of the girdle is in general of the same constructionand arrangement as the front section, being bound at its upper and loweredges 13 and 14 with tape or other nonelastic fabric for strengtheningthe edges of the girdle. Vertical reinforcing strips 15 are provided atone or more points along the length of the rear half of the girclle, andthese are preferably stitched or otherwise secured to the same in suchmanner as to provide pockets 16 for holding stays or other stiffeningmeans. End strips 17 are also stitched or otherwise secured to the rearhalf of the girdle having pockets 18 therein for holding strengtheningstays and having portions 19 through or in which are fastened theeyelets 3 for fastening the rear half of the girdle to the front portionthereof.

The rear half of the girdle is approximately the same width throughoutits length, but the proportions of the same will, of course, be variedin accordance with the requirements of the individual wearer thereof.The front half of the girdle is considerably wider near its center thanat the sides and curves upwardly along its upper edge 4 and is providedwith a downwardly projecting central portion or tab 21 along its bottomedge. The lower half of the girdle, including the downwardly projectingportion or tab 21 is drawn inwardly in use and tightly hugs and supportsthe lower portion of the abdomen, the stays S and pockets 7 extendingdownwardly through the tab 21 to the lower edge thereof to stiffen it.

At suitable points above the lower edge of the front half of the girdle1 and preferably at about the middle horizontal line thereof I secureone or more garter attachments or supports 22, two such supports beingshown in the drawings. These are each formed of a strong band of anypreferred nonelastic material or fabric, stitched or otherwise se curedat its upper end to the body of the girdle. As shown, the supports 22are ar ranged one on each side of the front strap 6, within the pocketsof which may be provided stiffening stays 8 as before.

In use of the girdle, it is placed about the body of the wearer and thelacing ties 2a are drawn up tightly so that the girdle conforms to andassumes the shape of the body. As shown in Fig. 1, the lower portion ofthe front section of the girdle curves downwardly and inwardly in avertical plane away from the garter supports and therefore lies beneaththe abdomen and supports the same. The garter supports 22 are attachedat their upper ends only, to the girdle at the points 30, opposite themost protuberant portion of the abdomen, which, when the girdle is inplace, is considerably above the lower portion of the girdle and usuallyabout midway between its upper and lower edges. The strain on the gartersupports therefore not only prevents the girdle from slipping upwardlyon the body but, in fact, draws it downwardly and inwardly thereon, thusboth reducing the protuberance and assisting in holding the lowerportion of the girdle beneath the abdomen to support the same. Thegirdle is very effective in both sitting and standing positions of thewearer. hen sitting, with the garters relaxed, the abdomen is bothreduced and supported, the lacing ties 24 being drawn up sufiioientlytight for this purpose. When standing, the garter supports 22 not onlyform a means of attachment for the garters but also promote reductionand support of the abdomen and prevent slipping of the girdle on thebody.

The girdle may of course be used in surgical cases as a support orbandage for use after abdominal operations or, in cases of obesity, toreduce a protuberant abdomen.

hat I claim is An abdominal girdle or support comprising a front portionand a rear portion provided with means for drawing them tightly aroundthe body of the wearer, the front portion being shaped to fit and coverthe abdomen only from substantially the waist line down, and a pair ofdepending garter supports secured at their upper ends only to said frontportion substantially midway between the upper and lower edges thereofand, when the gir lle is in place on the body, opposite the protuberantportion of the abdomen, the lower part of the front portion of thegirdle curving downwardly and inwardly beneath the lower portion of theabdomen and being adapted to support the same irrespective of strainupon said garter supports.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

EVA \EAYNARD MARTIN.

Witnesses:

M. M. BEEMAN, J. H. PARDEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, I). C.

